Colorado MahlerFest Nlahler was the first composer to shatter the fin-de-siicle intellectual tradition of bland rationality and blind optimism. His vision of the world, so clearly mirrored in his works, reflected the problems of life, of love, of achievement and failure, of happiness and fame from the viewpoint of death. Predictably, audiences then were utterly perplexed by both the emotional honesty and emotional complexity of this approach. However, today's generation of listeners finds itself increasingly in accord with a composer who does not spare them the effort of stretching their emotional range. The American critic David Hall eloquently summarized the whole history of public reaction to Mahler: "For the audiences of Mahler's own day, and perhaps even for those between the two world wars, his musical message was too strong a dose of bitter medicine.... Today, what were once Mahler's private anxieties and aspirations...now find an echo in the experiences of many hundreds of thousands. They are those for whom the circumstances of war, of overdeveloped technology and underdeveloped humanity...have posed the hard core questions of faith in human destiny that Mahlel as a solitary individual, tried to answer. Now that his problems have, in a sense, become common to all of us, his music has begun to find a home throughout the world." His music may reach contemporary ears, but contemporary budgets do not promote frequent performances of the great symphonies of Mahler, other than the popular First and Fourth Syntphonies. Complete works for hundred-piece orchestras and multiple choirs, lasting nearly two hours and demanding extraordinary perfomrance skills, until recently found only sporadic inclusion in orchestra seasons, and then primarily with major, professional orchestras. Thus came the idea twelve years ago to create a festival dedicated first to the performance and study of the entire repertoire and life of Mahler, and secondly to the devoted musicians and scholars who creatively share Mahler's vision of the world, of life, and of music. A festival where one can perform the Sixth S1,rypfi6yy y11ll1 the Scherzo as the second movement one night and with the Scherzo as the third movement the next night. A festival where one can perform the least known of the four completions of the unfinished Tenth Syrnphony. A festival in which dedicated amateur and professional musicians gather from different orchestras across the state and, as it has turned out, across the continents, to perform what is generally considered the greatest symphonic creations in the repertoire. Perhaps most gratifuing is the fact that the Colorado MahlerFest has become an event propelled and driven by the artistic spirit which dwells in all its creative participants to be a part of this unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. 'A Symphony is like the world. It must embrace everything. .." Mahler once declared. Early every January the Colorado MahlerFest allows its participants and audiences to explore one of history's greatest musical prophets. Olson, Artistic Director and Founder -Robert The Funding for MahlerFest XI has been provided in part by grants from: The Dietrich Foundation of Philadelphia tural Facilities Dis trict nd the College of Music sembty of Biutier ts Council -00f48 The Boulder Library Foundation Many generous friends of the MahlerFest and the advertisers in this Program Book We thank our good friends at KVOD, Denver, for their in-kind support and cosponsorship of MahlerFest XII From the wholesale copy division of Colt Reproduction Center, lnc. 2525 Frontier Avenue Boulder, CO 80301 Look for the bright blue awnings on Pearl Parkway just west of the Foothills Highway Email: [email protected] Fax: (303) z149-2895 Web: www.csn.neU-colt (303) 449-2760 Free Pick-up and Delivery Tift.iE iLHANrl,iN::' -R,,H,H M,iUS;E,Urifiitr lOF E:ST:IH.RIN ART Contemporary American Western Art +-/e Paintings & Bronze Sculpture LEAN t N',|rne e 6055 Longbow Drive 'Boulder, Colorado 80301 ' 303.530,1442 M,F 8,4:30 Sat. & Sun. 10,4 Free Admission http ://www leanintree,com 'A Glane to the Past" by Dan Gmen Colorado MahlerFest BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stan Ruttenberg, President Dr Dauid Hummer, Past President Barry Knapp, Vice-President L. Daaid Lewis, Treasurer Sara Sheldon, Secretary Dr lennifer Motyckn, Legal Consultant Dr. Steaen Bruns Bob Collins Patrick Mason Dr Claude McMillan Dr. Robert Olson lane Uitti leannaWearing Gerald Eox, Honorary Member Counsel-Richar d P eddie, F r as con a, l oiner €t Goodman ARTISTIC STAFF Anusnc DnrcroR ar.ro CoxoucroR Robert Olson Assrsratvr CoNoucroxs Andy Anderson Brian St.lohn RickThomas Orr-Srecr Cor.roucron RickThomas DrRrcron or Colloeun Stersen Bruns Dmrcron or CHaMsen CoNlcsRTs PatrickMason CoNcrRrlaasrsn Annamaila Karacson ADMINISTRATIVE AND PRODUCTION STAFF Gnapurc Anrs Bob Collins Sourvo RncoRonlc ENcNpsRs Ierra Bruck andTom Patsenka i. G6rdonHolt and Stwe Stone Glenn Sherwood and Mike Palmer Vroso Mike Palmer Bruce Wendlins Bob Wojkto " Apvrsons ro VDSocRAPHER Anda Anderson Alexhnder Koops CU IlrrERN Alexander Koops MahlerFest XII is presented in cooperation with the University of Colorado and the College of Music, Dr. Daniel Sher, Dean. Bolno on Drnncrorcl Sh Ru(mberg. hsidenr Bry tuapp, Vice kesident Sm Sheldon, Secrchry L Dalid bwis. Treaure. Dr Steve BMs Bob Coforodo fulafiferfest ColIns D Chude McMlle Dr Robcfl Olson P.O. Box 1 31 4, Boulder, CO 80306-1 314 Telephone: (303) 447-051 3 Jme UnU Robert Olson, Artistic Director Hello all Mahlerites, As you might recall, MahlerFest XI 1998, signaled the completion of Cycle I and the start of Cycle 2-a hybrid if you will. This year's MahlerFest XII provides us with the opportunity of repeating MahlerFest II's great success, The "Resurrection" Symphony. This time, though, we have the opportunity of hearing this massive work in a better acoustical setting-at Macky Auditorium- complete with a fine pipe organ, real bells, and alphorns to play the ethereal heavenly calls in the fifth movement (more on alphorns will be found on p. 15). The use of real bells for /y're Resurrection follows Mahler's own first intentions (more on the bells can also be found in the article on p. 15). We thank Mn Dave Supperstein of Colorado Springs, for the use of his set of railroad engine bells (which, incidentally, he also made available for the Colorado Springs perforrnances of the Mahler Second last May). The logistics of getting the bells to Boulde4 and into Macky Auditorium, were somewhat formidable but, weather permitting, we will have the unique experience of hearing a peal of real bells during the glorious climax of the symphony. You might recall that the program for the first MahlerFest, 1988, included the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, the companion song cycle to the Fist Symphony. Since MahlerFest I we have not programmed any songs with orchestral accompaniment as curtain raisers to any of the symphonies. Mahler symphonies, with the exception of I and 4, are so long, and so demanding that Maestro Olson thought it unwise to try to add songs to rehearsals of already long and dfficult works. Howeve4 the experience and successes of the first cycle have emboldened us to add songs as curtain raisers to most of our upcoming programs. MahlerFest XII is an experiment and we hope that it proves practicable to continue such programming for many of the remaining symphonies. Thanks are due to the Boulder Arts Council for designating MahlerFest as a recipient of Boulder's agreement with CU for providing some rent-free events at Maclcy. This year we give deepest thanks to Boulder's Board of County Commissioners and their Citizen's Cultural Advisory Committee (for SCFD Tier III organizations) for their generous support and encouragement to begin an outreach program to other Boulder County sites. We hope that some of you attended the Thursday evening Lieder recital at the lnfayette Public Library, our first outreach effort. If this experiment proves populari we will repeat it next year with a second Lieder recital at another Boulder Country loc ation. Now please sit back and enjoy some of Mahler's most glorious music. Stan Ruttenberg, President, Board of Di Thank you! Presenting our annual MahlerFest is a labor of love for our volunteer MahlerFest Orchestra, the Board of Directors and other volunteers. However, there are also manifold expenses, not entirely met by ticket sales and grants. Audience donations are also crucial to keep us in the black, enabling us to plan programs that get better each year. For your convenience, a submission form, with pre-addressed envelope is bound into the center pages of this program. Your contributions of whatever amount are significant, and highly prized. For those we offer our heartfelt thanks. The MahlerFest Cycle 2 will continue in 2000 with the glorious Symphony No. 3. March into the new millennium with Pan! Your help will be needed! CoNrnrsurrNc CATEGoRTES Patrons Over $L00 Friends Under $100 MahlerFest Founding Members Patrons (over $100) Annemarie Mahler Friends (under $100) Jim Mitchell Bob Collins Management Robotics John M. Brown Dr. & Mrs. James Donald Monk Dale Day Jennifer Motycka Lloyd & Mary Gelman Harry & Jean Nachman Charles Demarest Robert & Victoria Olson Vioia Haertling Tonny-Broe Parkin Robert & Louise Dudley Paul & Elizabeth Reynoids David and Gertrude Holtslag Gert & Walt Pedlow Homsi Fady Pat & Stan Ruttenberg William & Mary Anne Jerome Karen Ripley Fuller Foundation US WEST Lorraine Kaimel Ernest Rost Marion Higman Alice Dodge Wallace Andrew & Anne Keller Robert L. Resseguie David S. & Janet Hummer Charles & Marian Matheson Chester F- Shans Current Contributors (as ofDecember 30, 1998) Patrons (over $100) Donors (under $100) In-Kind Contributions Anonymous Wes Blomster Boulder Wine Merchant Bob Collins fuchard and Linda Eggers Colt Reproduction Center Gary Dicks H.